DataPacket vs BuyVM: privacy compared
DataPacket and BuyVM are both rated in server hosting against the same 13 public criteria. DataPacket does better on tells users about requests, TLS configuration, security headers and mail-friendly (port 25). BuyVM does better on no ads or data sales and anonymous payment. DataPacket is based in the United Kingdom (Five Eyes); BuyVM is based in the United Arab Emirates.
| Criterion | DataPacket Our pick | BuyVM |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Grade D D (43/100) | Grade F F (38/100) |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom Five Eyes | United Arab Emirates Outside Eyes |
| Open source Is all the source code needed to run the product public? | No | No |
| No trackers or telemetry Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default? | No source | No |
| No ads or data sales Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data? | Partial source | Yes source |
| Independent audit Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years? | No | No |
| Transparency report Does the provider regularly publish how many government and legal requests it receives and how it responds? | Partial source | Partial source |
| Tells users about requests Does the provider promise to tell users about requests for their data, unless a court forbids it? | Yes source | No |
| TLS configuration Does the website pass the Qualys SSL Labs test with a grade of A or better? | Yes source | Partial source |
| Security headers Does the website pass the Mozilla HTTP Observatory test with a grade of A or better? | Partial source | No source |
| Modern web standards Does the website score 90% or higher on the Internet.nl website test? | Not tested yet | Not tested yet |
| Mail-friendly (port 25) Is outbound port 25 open by default, or opened on request? | Yes source | Partial source |
| Reverse DNS Can reverse DNS (PTR) records be set for IPv4 and IPv6? | Yes source | Yes source |
| IPv6 Is native IPv6 included? | Yes source | Yes source |
| Anonymous payment Can servers be paid for with cryptocurrency or without identity checks? | No source | Yes source |
Summaries
DataPacket. DataPacket scores 43 out of 100 (grade D) on the server hosting criteria. It meets 5 of 12 criteria: tells users about requests, TLS configuration, mail-friendly (port 25), Reverse DNS and IPv6. It partly meets no ads or data sales, transparency report and security headers. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, independent audit and anonymous payment. It is based in the United Kingdom: Five Eyes member; GDPR-style data protection law; CLOUD Act data access agreement with the US. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade A+ and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B.
BuyVM. BuyVM scores 38 out of 100 (grade F) on the server hosting criteria. It meets 4 of 12 criteria: no ads or data sales, Reverse DNS, IPv6 and anonymous payment. It partly meets transparency report, TLS configuration and mail-friendly (port 25). It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, independent audit, tells users about requests and security headers. It is based in the United Arab Emirates: Not in the Five, Nine or Fourteen Eyes. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade B and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade D.